Macon businesses benefiting from Glen Powell movie filming

Local leaders say the production is helping businesses while exposing students and residents to the filmmaking process.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Filming for the movie “The Comeback King,” starring Glen Powell, is bringing economic activity and national attention to Macon as production continues across the city.

Visit Macon Senior Vice President Aaron Buzza says the filming has had a positive impact on locals and businesses. Buzza says Macon has hosted many major productions like “Superman” and “The Color Purple” due to one special feature.

“Macon has a lot of architecture that can play for a variety of different timeframes; and a variety of different locations,” he said. “So, we can be New York city in the 1920s, we can be present day (in some cases) Macon, Georgia. So, we have a variety of films that can come in and make work based on what the film calls for, and the location they’re looking for.”

Buzza doesn’t have an exact number for the economic impact so far, but he says with hotel use, catered food and different accessories needed, most downtown Macon businesses are thriving.

“It’s kind of hard to wrap our arms around how wide the impact is, but if a department needs more electrical tape, they go to a hardware store to get more tape, or craft services needs to run to a grocery store to pick up whatever product is popular at crafts service that particular day, and they need to replenish their supply. Those dollars are spread throughout the community in a variety of ways,” he said.

Larry Brumley, senior vice president for marketing communications at Mercer University, says students have learned a lot from being on set.

“Just being exposed to it and watching the process of making the movie, and I saw some of our students yesterday around when they were filming graduation scenes on campus, that they get the chance to see all the behind the scenes work that goes into making a movie, and how many people it takes to make a movie and the process. So, it’s been invaluable from that standpoint,” he said.

Buzza says going forward, they would love to see more productions showcase areas that have not been utilized before.

“I’m thinking of one in particular that could be a very priority spot, because there isn’t anything else that exists like it in the state, so being able to showcase other parts of town is going to be fantastic too,” he said.

“Comeback King” is set to hit theaters on February 5 of next year.